Documentary looks back at violent history of Detroit police’s S.T.R.E.S.S. units

Director David Van Wie and the film's narrator Thomas Howell at the premiere of "Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S"

Courtesy of David Van Wie

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Stateside’s conversation David Van Wie, producer and director of “Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S”

In 1971, the Detroit Police Department launched the S.T.R.E.S.S unit, an acronym for “Stop the Robberies and Enjoy Safe Streets.”

The unit was eliminated by Mayor Young in 1974, but the stories of those three years are dark and violent. They included tragedies of unchecked use of excessive force against the city’s African-American community.

David Van Wie is the film’s producer and director. Van Wie joined Stateside’s Cynthia Canty to discuss the history of the S.T.R.E.S.S. unit and his motivations for the making the film.

Movie poster for "Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S"

Credit David Van WIe

Van Wie is a Michigan native, whose father served as S.T.R.E.S.S officer on of the “decoy units.” His father did not wear a uniform, so growing up, Van Wie had no idea what his father’s job was.

Through the years, Van Wie said he began to gather bits and pieces of the story. Then, just five years ago, he confronted his father about the S.T.R.E.S.S. unit.

“He finally sat down, and he told me the story of S.T.R.E.S.S and I about fell over in my chair. I just couldn’t believe what had happened, what the unit did, the consequences of that unit," said Van Wie.

Van Wie told his father that they had to share this story. His father responded: “Nobody’s talking to you, including me."

Listen above to hear Van Wie discuss how S.T.R.E.S.S operated, and what he hopes viewers will take away from the film.

Detroit Under S.T.R.E.S.S will be screened this Thursday at 7:30 pm at the Emagine Theater on North Main Street in Royal Oak, as part of the second annual "I See You Awards.”

David Van Wie will hold a question and answer session after the screening.

This post was written by Stateside production assistant Sophie Sherry.

Stateside’s conversation with Herb Boyd, author of “Black Detroit: A People’s History of Self-Determination”

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The book is Black Detroit: A People’s History of Self-Determination by Herb Boyd, son of Detroit and an instructor at The City College of New York currently teaching African American history. Boyd now lives in Harlem.

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That's because about 70 percent of Detroit police officers currently don't live in – or near – the city.

Police commission chair Willie Bell says he's known about the problem since he became a commissioner in 2014. It’s partially due to a 1999 state law that prevents cities from requiring municipal employees to live where they work.